Waiting On God

Revealing Christ to Us

When we begin to walk with God, it takes a miracle for Christ to be changed from a historical figure with no impact on our lives, to His rightful place as Lord of our lives. It does not come by just studying the Bible or by trying to believe. No matter how much we may desire spiritual reality, unless Jesus opens the "eyes of our heart" (our spiritual eyes), we will remain blind to the things of the Spirit and the kingdom of God. The Father is willing to reveal Christ to us, but the key question is, am I willing to wait upon God for Him to do so? Am I hungry and thirsty enough to take time with God so that He can open my spiritual eyes? The riches of God are hidden from the man or woman that does not value them. But "blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6).

There is a price for everything. Christ has paid the price of sin, but there is also a price for us. The price we pay is nothing in comparison to what Christ has already done, but it is still a price. I believe that part of the price we must pay to know reality in spiritual things is quality time alone with God. Waiting on God takes time. That is a simple and obvious statement, but what else do we have but the time God has given us? We give ourselves to things that have value in our eyes. If we allow other things to rob God of our time and attention (purposefully or just through neglect), what does this reveal about our hearts? Do we want the reality of God in our lives? Do we want Christ to be our Lord? Do we want to know Him as Paul did? This is where we must do business with God. We cannot change our own hearts, but if we will not approach God in sincerity and take time with Him, how can we expect God to change our hearts?

As we come, a proper attitude of heart is essential. We come in deep humility before God, asking Him to open the eyes of our heart that we might see clearly. After Jesus had healed the blind man, the Pharisees were offended. They asked Jesus, "Are we blind also?" Jesus said to them, "If you were blind, you would have no sin; but now you say, 'We see.' Therefore your sin remains" (John 9:41). The Pharisees were filled with pride; they would not humble themselves and ask Jesus to help them. Humility is an essential key to an initial and continuing revelation of Jesus Christ. If we have no need, Jesus cannot meet our need. If we are among those who see our need, let us be assured that Jesus will meet the need in our lives as we humble ourselves in His presence. Blessed are those who have a need.

When Jesus was here upon the earth, one central question followed Him wherever He went: Who is this man? Most did not see who He was. They had concepts in their mind of what the Messiah would be like and what he would do, and Jesus did not fit those concepts. The religious leaders had a structure that suited them. They liked their position and authority, and when Jesus challenged its foundation, they reacted violently to protect themselves. They were so ensnared by sin and distorted in their minds that when Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead, they responded with indescribable rage and began plotting to kill both Lazarus and Jesus. These men did not know their day of visitation. Lest we be too harsh in our condemnation of them, do we realize that we could be just as blind today? If we do not consider this possible, it may be that we are already there.

So, who is Jesus? He was God, revealed in human form. Jesus said that He and the Father were one. He never refused worship by one who came in sincerity, recognizing who He was. Paul said, "He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist. And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence" (Colossians 1:15-18).

Only the Holy Spirit can open our eyes to the significance of who Christ is. Faith must have this revelation as its foundation, for Christ is the author and finisher of our faith. All false religion goes wrong on question of who Christ is. A true relationship with God is based on a true revelation of Christ, for "there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus" (1 Timothy 2:5). He Himself said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6). Christ is the pivotal point in creation and in the plan of God for man. So we must have a clear revelation of who Christ is, and only the Holy Spirit can give us that revelation. He is faithful to do so for any man or woman who comes in sincerity before God to ask. "Ask and you shall receive" is the promise. Are we willing to ask until we receive?

A clear revelation of Jesus includes a revelation of His authority. "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.' Amen" (Matthew 28:18-20). We must see that all authority has been given to Christ and He has never given it away. If we move in union with Him, we move in His authority. If we move outside of this union, we move on our own authority and outside of what God is doing. To move in union with Christ continually in all things, properly recognizing His authority and keeping ourselves under His authority, we must continually wait on Him.

If we are abiding in Christ, we will never stop seeing more of who Christ is, for He is God. There are no limits in God, and although we can do nothing in ourselves, God has made full provision for us. God's provision is Himself and what He will do as He indwells us by the Spirit. We cannot rely on natural provision, and we must avail ourselves of God's provision. Consider carefully the words of our Lord just before He went to Calvary. They are full of direction.

"'If you love Me, keep My commandments. And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever--the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you orphans; I will come to you. A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you. He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him.' Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, 'Lord, how is it that You will manifest Yourself to us, and not to the world?' Jesus answered and said to him, 'If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him. He who does not love Me does not keep My words; and the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me. These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you'" (John 14:15-26).

Next: Revealing Christ in Us